What is the Karana sarira?
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* The principle of intellect (Buddhi) in the macrocosm. For further
explanation of this term, see Sankara's commentaries on the Brahma
Sutras.
** Linga means that which conveys meaning, characteristic mark.
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A. It is ignorance [of different monads] (avidya), which is the cause
of the other two bodies, and which is without beginning [in the present
manvantara],* ineffable, reflection [of Brahma] and productive of the
concept of non-identity between self and Brahma. It is also said:--
"Without a beginning, ineffable avidya is called the upadhi (vehicle)--
karana (cause). Know the Spirit to be truly different from the three
upadhis--i.e., bodies."
Q. What is Not-Spirit?
A. It is the three bodies [described above], which are impermanent,
inanimate (jada), essentially painful and subject to congregation and
segregation.
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* It must not be supposed that avidya is here confounded with prakriti.
What is meant by avidya being without beginning, is that it forms no
link in the Karmic chain leading to succession of births and deaths, it
is evolved by a law embodied in prakriti itself.
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